Fire prompts evacuations in Wetmore area

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WETMORE - A fast-moving fire in the Wetmore area west of Pueblo has burned some structures and prompted hundreds of evacuations.

Custer County sheriff's officials say they are evacuating the town of Wetmore as the fire spreads in high winds, and Pueblo County sheriff's officials said they were evacuating 308 homes in their jurisdiction Tuesday afternoon.

Colorado Office of Emergency Management spokeswoman Micki Trost says some structures have burned. The exact number wasn't immediately confirmed. Trost's office is reporting the fire has grown to about 600 to 700 acres.

Fremont County officials say initial reports are that the fire began as a structure fire that quickly spread to nearby brush and grass.

The National Weather Service in Pueblo reported gusts up to 79 mph outside Wetmore just before 1 p.m.